On January 16, 2004 the Lord of the Harvest began a fresh work among several missionaries living and serving in the Machida and northwest Kanagawa area. The Father had placed a deep burden upon the heart of Buddy Brents, co-leader of FamilyLife Fellowship Japan, to gather God’s servants together for intensive corporate prayer on behalf of spiritual awakening in the surrounding area around Machida. So on this day Buddy called a meeting at TGI Fridays in Machida..

Those in attendance at the meeting were Tim Turner, Kevin Boone and Phil Kornegay of the Machida Christ Church, Jeremiah Boek and Todd Howard of Machida Horizon Chapel, Ruessell Hale of Atsugi Chapel, Keith Croom of Zama Chapel, Rick Conrad of Faith Baptist Church Sagamihara, Buddy Brents, Victor Morrison, Josh Park, Bill & Toshiko Pigford, Shelly Webb and Linda Morman of FamilyLife Fellowship Japan. Everyone agreed with the need for united prayer on behalf of awakening in Japan. This was also during the time when the Free Japan prayer campaign was being promoted, so it was serving as a catalyst for the meeting.

After this, meetings were held monthly from January through June at Horizon Chapel, Machida Christ Church, Faith Baptist Church in Sagamihara and the home of Buddy and Melanie Brents. Gradually the participants evolved from just missionaries to include Japanese and international pastors, house church leaders and members from various churches. Pastors who participated included Pastor Yoshio Aso of Tamagawagakuenmae and Pastor Uchimura of Evergreen Chapel in Naruse. Many other Japanese church members also participated in the prayer meetings.

The agenda was simple and shared by all those who participated. There was first a time of praise. This was led by various ones within the network who had gifts in music or abilities for leading in worship. Then the group would watch one or two case studies in the Transformations video series. This two-part series tracks various community or city-wide awakenings that have occurred around the world and points to united prayer as the key in each case. Then, after watching the video, those who had gathered would join together in prayer for their cities and their communities. On March 20 in conjunction with the Free Japan emphasis, the group gathered for a special day of fasting and prayer.

Since the prayer network began by watching the Transformations video series, they agreed to call the name of the new partnership, “TNT”, or Transformation Network Team. One of the original visions cast from the scriptures for the group came from Acts 13:42-52 where a community or city-wide awakening took place in Pisidian Antioch and spread throughout the surrounding region. The TNT was praying for the following to take place in Machida, Kanagawa and beyond:

Intense hunger among the lost for the Word of God (Acts 13:42-43)

Whole cities coming together in unity for the glory of God (Acts 13:44,48)

Fearless and aggressive evangelism by the people of God (Acts 13:45-48, 50-51)

Unlimited expansion of servants on mission with God (Acts 13:49-51)

Overflowing disciples filled with the Spirit of God (Acts 13:52).

Although the network has not been able to gather together again since the summer break, the network has fostered a continuing spirit of unity and partnership with missionaries and nationals joining together for such things as outreach related to the Passion movie, evangelism through joint golf events such as the Josh Olsen tournaments and clinics, a fall session of Couples (marriage enrichment seminar), and some are currently partnering together to co-host a Christmas concert featuring Japanese Christian artist Yurie Kokubu on December 26 at the Ajisai Kaikan in Sagamihara. So … the unity and the passion for souls goes on!

Submitted by Victor Morrison, FamilyLife Fellowship Japan, IMB, SBC